we look back at 2012. >> return to our guest of the discussion and debate about president obama's speech and record. >> of course, it may be true, as mr. ford has indicated, but the truth is obama is as progressive a figure who has the chance of being elected in america. friedrich engels will not be the secretary of labor and mark will not be the secretary of the treasury. >> he is the more effective evil because he is able, being a democrat, to accomplish more of that right-wing agenda, and republican ever could. george bush tried to privatize social security. he cut his worst domestic defeat of his term in so doing, and the republican were reeling from that, even in 2009. it took barack obama to introduce a model for austerity. >> 29,000 public school teachers and support staff have gone on strike after union leaders failed to reach an agreement with the nation's third largest school district over education reforms sought by chicago mayor rahm emanuel. >> we will walk the picket lines, we will talk to parents, clergy, we will demand a fair contract today. we demand a fair contract now.